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The Feast Day of the Epiphany of Our Lord
Yes, friends, today is the Day of Epiphany, the day when the people of God (for centuries) remember and celebrate the visit of the Magi. It's actually more of a door than a day. Epiphany opens up a season of worship wherein we ponderously explore the manifest mysteries of the Incarnation, the Word become flesh and dwelling among us. The coming days will lead us on a grand pilgrimage through the Son of God's mysterious childhood, his baptism, and the miracle at the wedding in Cana, all culminating with the mountain top experience of his transfiguration.
An epiphany isn't discovering something new. It's finally seeing something old. To have an epiphany is to finally see what you've been looking at so long; something mysterious and sublime long obscured by the ordinary and mundane. It's the sudden opening up of the eyes of the heart. Epiphany breaks out as the Spirit draws us to participate with Revelation (i.e. the Word of God). First we hear. Next we see. Then we behold. This defines the dance of worship; hearing the Word, seeing the Vision, beholding the Mystery of God and finally becoming the dream. It is my conviction that we become what we behold.
For those of us who design and lead worship-- How do we create space, shape environments and build pathways that help to catalyze our participation with revelation such that epiphanies happen? How does worship become a better context for epiphany? posted by John David Walt | at 1/06/2009 07:38:00 AM
Today...
3 Comments:
Great Post, JD!
I love the way you describe epiphany and how it relates to our lives.
And you nailed it in the last paragraph saying that a worship service is a catalyst to personal epiphany.
Perhaps that is what worship planners should stencil on the walls in their offices a reminder that the worship service isn't the goal, and the service doesn't make God present, but rather the service is an event to help worshippers see the truth of God that is always around us.
Of course, this also applies to preachers, teachers, authors, etc.
God Bless,
JAy.
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Generally speaking, epiphany occurs when a thing that has been there all along suddenly comes into view, or due to a perspective-shift, comes into view in a new and different way.
I worship planners try to bring this about by one of two ways; bringing Jesus to where the people are or bringing the people to where Jesus is.
It seems to me that a balance is appropriate. Four friends brought a man on a stretcher to Jesus. Matthew brought Jesus to a party of his friends. I think both are helpful and appropriate; that a balance is good.
Thoughts?
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